Another brilliant tactical ride by Manoel Nunes was the difference between victory and defeat for last season’s Derby winner Sacred Man in Saturday’s Class 2 over 1500 metres.

In a quick move from the six hundred metre point, Nunes popped away from the rail to improve quickly on the outside of the $1.8 race favorite Pearl Green effectively placing the horse in a pocket behind Luen On Star coming to the home turn. With Sacred Man in full flight Nunes was able to steal almost three lengths on the favorite who tried hard to rally late, but was unable to draw back the margin winding up in third place.

Sacred Man crossed the line a length and a half clear of Grand Double Win (Peter Ho), with Pearl Green (Ruan Maia) a nose way in third.

The five year old son of Fastnet Rock (Aus) clocked the identical time of 1.50.3 that he posted on a similar track for his Derby victory in May of last year under Zac Purton.

Sacred Man had raced five times without success since his Derby win prior to Saturday, but has been plagued by bad tracks for the most part. The rain early in the week and the bitterly cold conditions made it appear as if his chances were again going to be foiled, however the wonderful drying powers of the Taipa track saw the surface come up as good to yielding on raceday.

Sacred Man is another former Chris Waller galloper that trainer Joe Lau has taken over and produced superb results with.

Like Lau’s stable star The Alfonso, both have won the SJM Derby by a huge space and both horses have appeared to come back better in their five year old year.

The brown gelding commenced his racing career as Triple Ex for Chris Waller with a Maiden win and a Class 2 victory at Hawkesbury to his credit from eight runs in Australia.

From a Derby viewpoint Pearl Green lost no admirers in a tip top effort after being left flat footed around the bend, and will now be aimed at the Derby Trial over 1500 metres on March 4.

Trainer Geoff Allendorf has a real star in his yard with the highly impressive Stryker (Aus) gelding Luen On Eagle who made it three wins from three starts in Saturdays Class 3 & 4 over 1200 metres.

Ridden by Andrew Calder, Luen On Eagle took command of the race straight out of the gates to lead on the bridle. Despite being pressured by Lucky Mate coming to the turn Calder sat quiet until inside the two hundred where he gave the three year old full rein. Luen On Eagle hit the line full of running to beat Valiant Soldier (Oscar Chavez) by one and a half lengths, with a further two lengths back to Bring Me Speed (Wayne Smith) in third.

Luen On Eagle’s run time of 1.09.8 on a track rated good to yielding was .04 quicker then Felizmaster’s run in the Class 1 & 2 Handicap, which bodes well for the youngsters future prospects.

The Listed Lisboa Juvenile over 1200 metres for 2 & 3YO’s on March 4 will be the gelding’s next mission, and then it will be onto the Lisboa Challenge (LR) over 1500 metres on April 14th.

Allendorf won the Lisboa Challenge last year with Luen On Treasure who is raced by the Luen On Eagle’s part owner Mr. Thomas Lau. Lau races Luen On Eagle with another long standing client of the Allendorf yard in well known Central Coast NSW racing identity Colin Keane.

A hot speed in the Class 1 & 2 played right into the hands of the Australian import Felizmaster who powered home under Irishman Wayne Smith to win running away in the 1200 metre contest.

Felizmaster prepared by Danny Wong chalked up win number five in Macau with four of them at the 1200 metre trip.

The six year old son of Stratum (Aus) possesses one of the best finishing bursts of any horse in Macau when the race unfolds his way, and has now won two from his last three under Wayne Smith.

“They went hard and that suits him.” Smith said.

“You just have to be confident enough to let him settle and get balanced. If you chase them he does not finish the race off the same.”

Felizmaster was formerly raced in Australia by Segenhoe Throughbreds as Te Rux.

The gelding won a Maiden at Nowra when prepared by David Vandyke, then finished his racing days under Toby Edmonds at the Gold Coast winning another two races there.